1. Advent Clergy Retreat
2. Planned Giving Workshop Nov. 17, Brewer
3. “Gather Round” Curriculum Workshop Nov. 17, Dedham
4. Pilgrim Lodge Camp Schedule posted
5. Condolences
6. Choir Director Needed
7. Churches on the Brink
8. Sexton for a Month
9. “For the Bible Tells Me So” in South Portland

1. ADVENT CLERGY RETREAT! Believe it or not, Advent is rapidly approaching. The Commission for Spiritual Life is offering two opportunities for clergy to help them prepare for this important season. The retreat will be held at the First Congregational Church of Ellsworth on November 15 and at Woodford's Congregational Church in Portland on November 27. Susie Craig will facilitate the retreats. The retreat is from 10:00 to 2:00. Lunch will be provided by the Commission. Please send registration Information (name, telephone # and email) to Cathy Croudis at cathycroudis@maineucc.org.

2. Last Chance to Sign Up for the Planned Giving Workshop at Brewer First on
11/17. We have just three people from one church registered for the Planned Giving Workshop scheduled to run 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 17th at the Brewer First Church. Registration deadline is Tuesday, November 13th. If we do not have a total of at least five people or three churches registered by the end of the day on November 13th, we will have to cancel the workshop. We will announce whether or not the workshop is being held in next week's ACE.

3. Last Chance to Sign Up for the "Gather Round" curriculum Workshop at the Dedham Church on 11/17 We have just one person registered for this curriculum workshop scheduled to run from 9:00 to 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, November 17th at the Dedham Church. Registration Deadline is Tuesday, November 13th. If we do not have a total of at least five people or three churches registered by the end of the day on November 13th, we will have to cancel the workshop. We will announce whether or not the workshop is being held in next week's ACE.

4. THE 2008 PILGRIM LODGE SCHEDULE IS POSTED
A 2008 schedule of event dates and grade levels is posted on the Pilgrim Lodge website. If changes are made a notice will be sent out in a future ACE.
To view the 2008 PL schedule go to www.pilgrimlodge.org/schedule.html Please make a note in church bulletins and newsletters.

5. Condolences to Rev. Paul Day, currently serving the First Congregational in North Berwick on the sudden death of his brother Nov. 7, 2007. Paul was the former Minister of the Maine Bible Society. If you wish to send condolences, Rev. Day's address is:
360 Capisic Street, Portland, ME 04102

6. First Parish Congregational Church UCC, Saco, Maine seeks a Senior Choir Director with excellent conducting skills to lead a 20+ voice choir. Position includes mid-week/Sunday rehearsals and worship services. Ten-month salaried position, averaging 8-10 hours/week. Bachelor degree in Music preferred. More information available at www.firstparishsaco.org. Please submit letter of interest and resume to office@firstparishsaco.org.

7. Church at the Brink. The UCC conferences of CT, MA and RI have collaborated in organizing a one-day conference to begin to address the needs and issues of churches who are facing a triad of challenges – an aging building that may be in need of significant maintenance catch up; a shrinking membership, perhaps related to changing demographics and community make-up; and inadequate financial resources to do all that the congregation may want to do.
We have engaged Diana Butler Bass as our keynote speaker. The conference will be Saturday, December 8 at Old First in Springfield, MA. We are encouraging churches to register in teams, but will be happy to have anyone join us. There will be eight workshops that will be offered twice. For more information contact Lois Happe at (413) 737-1411 or brink@oldfirstchurch.net

8. A Unique Opportunity in January : Sexton for the Month!
Larry Stuart, the church building manager/sexton at Woodfords Church, has been notified that he will need to make himself available for Jury duty for the month of January. Therefore Woodfords will need to find a substitute for Larry while he is doing his civic duty. This is a paid position.
Realizing that Larry will be notified on a day-to-day basis as to his selection for jury duty, we anticipate that of our needs will include:
1. 20 -40 hours/week depending on Larry’s availability. These hours would include Tuesday and Wednesday from 5-9:30 pm
2. cleaning and vacuuming
3. snow removal of walkways around church during weekdays
4. assisting the Portland Conservatory of Music as they move in to our building in mid-January (Note: you won’t be doing any piano moving!!)

Please call the church office at 774-8243 for more information or if you are interested.

9. First Congregational Church UCC in South Portland, in collaboration with Equality Maine
is proud to present the critically acclaimed film FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO
on Friday, Nov. 30 at 7: 00 pm. Through the experience of five very normal, very Christian, very American families, we discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child. FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO offers healing, clarity, and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity. For more information call Deb Theriault at 799-8990 or visit www.forthebibletellsmeso.org.